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Local mum thanks CancerCare for support after husbands’ Leukaemia battle

Flookburgh mum Tracy Procter is taking on CancerCare’s Kendal StarWalk event to say thank you after receiving help for depression following her husband’s Leukaemia battle.

The 48 year old mum of two will take part in the annual charity night walk event on Saturday May 21st to raise money for CancerCare after receiving Counselling support during her husband’s gruelling bone marrow transplant treatment.

Tracy’s 53 year old husband James was first diagnosed back in 2009 which came as a huge shock to her young family. “It was such a difficult time for us. My youngest son was only 4 at the time.”

However, in 2012 Tracy found herself having to support her husband and family through cancer for a second time with James facing further chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant.

“The treatment was really brutal and he spent many weeks in isolation in hospital. My sons weren’t allowed to visit him.

“At first I thought I would be ok and that I’d be able to cope second time around but it was actually worse. James was in a really bad way for months, he was touch and go. It was so difficult caring for him and our two young sons - one also has learning difficulties. But I felt I had to stay strong for everyone. Eventually things got too much and I got really depressed. It got so bad that it was a struggle even getting out of bed some days.”

“I was originally told about CancerCare by my GP and used to have massages at their centre when James was first diagnosed but I realised I needed help again and I went back to get more support. The counselling sessions really helped me deal with everything I was going through. I am very grateful for their help.

As well as taking part in CancerCare’s upcoming StarWalk event, Tracy now also volunteers at the charity once a week, covering reception at their centre on Blackhall Road.

“It’s my way of giving something back after all the help they’ve given me. I’m really looking forward to the event and I’ve signed up to walk 10K with my two workmates.”

“James is now in remission and doing really well and I’m feeling in a much better place myself. There’s always the worry the cancer will come back but we’ve been really lucky. We made friends with other patients’ families who were also having transplants and some of them didn’t make it.”

“However, we also got the chance to meet the man who donated his bone marrow, Gareth, and his young family. We’ve been through to visit him in Oldham and still keep in touch with him which is nice. Before the cancer, James had really white hair but its grown back black, just like Gareth’s!”